SpaceX to Start Building Launch Abort System

The American space agency announces that it has approved the preliminary design review (PDR) that the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) carried out on its proposed Launch Abort System (LAS). Building the system can now move to its hardware phase.

An LAS is a system that space agencies and spacecraft manufacturers now use in order to ensure that glitches and explosions affecting a rocket would not kill astronauts aboard a space capsule.

These safety systems consist of several rocket motors attached to the spacecraft itself. At the first sign of trouble, the LAS activate, and whisk the capsule to safety by accelerating fiercely. Their entire purpose is to function for just a few moments, but save people's lives in the process.

For SpaceX, developing an LAS for its Dragon space capsule was an important milestone in its contract with NASA. The company is one of the few working towards developing a spacecraft capable to taking astronauts and cargo to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station (ISS), Space reports.

SpaceX concluded the PDR last week, and NASA officials have now confirmed its validity. As a result, the company may now start to assemble the hardware components that will make up the safety system.

“Dragon’s integrated launch abort system provides astronauts with the ability to safely escape from the beginning of the launch until the rocket reaches orbit,” says the co-leader of the DragonRider Program at SpaceX, David Giger.

“This level of protection is unprecedented in manned spaceflight history,” the expert adds in a statement. The DragonRider is an advanced version of Dragon, which will also be able to carry astronauts in space, not just cargo.

According to the Hawthorne, California-based company, the Dragon could carry as many as 7 astronauts on a single ride. The capsule is about 9.5 feet (2.9 meters) tall and 11.8 feet (3.6 meters) wide at its base.

NASA and SpaceX are cooperating under the second round of Commercial Crew Development (CCDev2) program. The latest batch of funds NASA gave to the private company – about $75 million – was awarded in April 2011. NASA is also funding three other private companies in the same manner.

In addition to Dragon and DragonRider, SpaceX is currently also considering creating the Red Dragon. This would be a version of its space capsule that would be able to land on the surface of the Red Planet.

The LAS, which the company builds straight into the walls of its capsule, could act as descent motors, and also as lift-off rockets, SpaceX officials believe. NASA has already manifested its interest in this project.